I'm assuming you won't be showing them pictures from the F2F, then?

I haven't shown them pictures in years because so many of them involve either girls or locations I did not tell them I was going.

Besides, even if your family came up with perfect canidate, you are a few years ( or more) from being ready for marriage.

Actually, I think I expire this year. And now that I have a job, clearly, it's time to get married.

Has your family been introducing you to any Indian women?

Not yet.

everything feels illegal.

and what you are developing now, is your own sense of right and wrong. Hard yes, but everyone goes through it. Once again, for future relationships, it will be so much easier. you be able to see what your family thinks, see reality, and then know inside that these things might be different.

Belated Hello to Margaret T. Welcome!

Bev, much tooth~ma and may I just say "ow" in sympathy?

P-C, what everyone else has said. Kissing is good. It's also pretty much a pass when there is no commitment anywhere. I know it may be different in your family's culture, but amongst most of us USians, we find any excuse to kiss, because, repeat after me--kissing is good. Not telling your mother you've been kissing girls is not a bad thing. Just, ya know, don't get caught by mom. *g*

I think I expire this year

now I have to wonder what happens if you expire. Will it be like 'old maids that were on the shelf in the regency romance novels. Will people just look at you , sigh , shake ther heads, and say 'It's such a shame'. and be astonished that anyone female even talks to you?

That is exactly what will happen, beth. EXACTLY.

Bev, tooth~ma.

P-C, I have no advice for you. You are in a very difficult situation. Tons of ~ma for you.

That is exactly what will happen, beth. EXACTLY.

Will you then be free?

If I am seen within ten feet of a girl, she's assumed to be my girlfriend

That's not your problem, Sunil. It's your family's problem for making that assumption.

I mean, I *totally* understand that it's become your problem b/c their assumptions make you feel like everything you do is illegal, but YOU KNOW that you aren't seeking out a girlfriend. YOU KNOW that just because you're in the company of a woman, that doesn't make her your girlfriend, that you don't have any non-parentally-approved intentions toward her. (Or, at least, if you have those intentions, you don't act on them.)

I mean, you have a job now -- you're going to be working with women, sometimes one-on-one. Do they have a problem with that, too?